US8506129B2 - Lighting unit - Google Patents

Lighting unit Download PDF

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Publication number
US8506129B2
US8506129B2 US13/357,584 US201213357584A US8506129B2 US 8506129 B2 US8506129 B2 US 8506129B2 US 201213357584 A US201213357584 A US 201213357584A US 8506129 B2 US8506129 B2 US 8506129B2
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Prior art keywords
light
ray
lens body
total reflection
lens
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Expired - Fee Related, expires
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US13/357,584
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English (en)
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US20120188774A1 (en
Inventor
Hidetaka Okada
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Stanley Electric Co Ltd
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Stanley Electric Co Ltd
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Assigned to STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD. reassignment STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: OKADA, HIDETAKA
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/30—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by reflectors
    • F21S43/31—Optical layout thereof
    • F21S43/315—Optical layout thereof using total internal reflection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/24—Light guides
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
    • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
    • F21S41/322—Optical layout thereof the reflector using total internal reflection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
    • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F21S43/239—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide plate-shaped
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F21S43/241—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide of complex shape
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/242—Light guides characterised by the emission area
    • F21S43/243—Light guides characterised by the emission area emitting light from one or more of its extremities
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/247—Light guides with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V5/00—Refractors for light sources
    • F21V5/04—Refractors for light sources of lens shape
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/0091—Reflectors for light sources using total internal reflection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Definitions

  • the presently disclosed subject matter relates to a lighting unit, and more specifically, to a lighting unit including an LED light source and a plate-like lens body used in combination.
  • a lighting unit including an LED light source and a plate-like lens body used in combination has conventionally been suggested (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4458359 which is hereinafter called patent literature 1).
  • a lighting unit 200 disclosed in Patent Literature 1 can include a plate-like lens body 210 , and an LED light source 220 arranged to face the front surface of the lens body 210 .
  • the lens body 210 can have a first side surface 211 functioning as a light exiting surface having a substantially rectangular shape greater in width than in thickness, and a second side surface 212 opposite the first side surface 211 .
  • the lens body 210 with an optical element for causing refraction or reflection can allow the first side surface 211 as a light exiting surface to form a linear light source for emitting linear light.
  • arrangement of an optical axis AX 1 of the lens body 210 and an optical axis AX 2 of the LED light source 220 crossing each other at right angles can make the layout design of a lamp difficult.
  • a linear light source for emitting linear light may also be formed by placing the LED light source 220 to face a side surface of the lens body 210 and not the front surface of the lens body 210 as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • a thickness H of the lens body 210 should be increased in order to increase the area of a light incident surface with the intention of enhancing the efficiency of use of light emitted from the LED light source 220 .
  • a lighting unit can utilize a lens body which is smaller in thickness and lighter in weight than a conventional lens body, and which can achieve efficiency of use of light comparable to or higher than efficiency achieved by the conventional lens body.
  • a lighting unit can include an LED light source, and a lens body with a first side surface functioning as a light exiting surface having a substantially rectangular shape greater in width than in thickness, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface.
  • the LED light source can be arranged to face the second side surface such that a ray of light emitted in a wide angle direction with respect to an optical axis of the LED light source travels toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body, and that a ray of light emitted in a narrow angle direction with respect to the optical axis enters the lens body through the second side surface.
  • the lens body can include a first optical system, a second optical system, and a third optical system.
  • the first optical system can include: a lens section formed on the front and rear surfaces or on the front or rear surface of the lens body such that a ray of light traveling toward the front and rear surfaces or toward the front or rear surface of the lens body enters the lens body, the lens section collecting the ray of light such that the ray of light travels along the optical axis; a first light incident surface arranged in an optical path of the ray of light collected by the lens section, the first light incident surface causing the ray of light to enter the lens body again; a first total reflection surface arranged in an optical path of the ray of light having entered the lens body through the first light incident surface, the first total reflection surface causing the ray of light to reflect totally in a direction crossing the optical axis at substantially right angles; and a second total reflection surface arranged in an optical path of the reflected ray of light having reflected totally off the first total reflection surface, the second total reflection surface causing the reflected ray of light to reflect totally to exit as a ray of light substantially parallel to the optical axi
  • the second optical system can include: a second light incident surface formed on the second side surface, the second light incident surface collecting a ray of light emitted in a narrow angle direction with respect to the optical axis such that the ray of light travels along the optical axis; a third total reflection surface arranged in an optical path of the ray of light collected by the second light incident surface and having entered the lens body, the third total reflection surface causing the ray of light to reflect totally and sideways with respect to the optical axis; and a fourth total reflection surface arranged in an optical path of the ray of light having reflected totally off the third total reflection surface, the fourth total reflection surface causing the ray of light to reflect totally to exit as a ray of light substantially parallel to the optical axis through an outermost region at an outermost part of the first side surface functioning as the light exiting surface.
  • the third optical system can include a third light incident surface for causing a ray of light emitted from the LED light source in a wide angle direction with respect to the optical axis and in the direction of the width of the lens body to enter the lens body, and a fifth total reflection surface for causing the ray of light having entered the lens body through the third light incident surface to reflect totally to exit as a ray of light substantially parallel to the optical axis through an intermediate region between the central region and the outermost region of the first side surface functioning as the light exiting surface.
  • An air layer (space) for causing the ray of light collected by the lens section to pass therethrough can be formed between the lens section and the first light incident surface.
  • Light that travels toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body may be increased by reducing the thickness of the lens body.
  • the first optical system (lens section and others) can allow the light that travels toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body to enter the lens body again, so that reduction of the efficiency of use of light to be caused by reducing the thickness of the lens body will not occur.
  • the lighting unit made in accordance with the principles of the presently disclosed subject matter can utilize the lens body which is smaller in thickness and lighter in weight than a conventional lens body, and which is capable of achieving efficiency of use of light comparable to or higher than efficiency achieved by the conventional lens body.
  • the lens body (each of the optical systems) can make it possible to form a linear light source for emitting linear light through the light exiting surface (central region, outermost region, and intermediate region).
  • the presence of the air layer between the lens section and the first light incident surface can allow the lens body to be still smaller in thickness and lighter in weight accordingly.
  • a lighting unit in accordance with the disclosed subject matter can be capable of forming a linear light source for emitting a ray of light substantially parallel to the optical axis.
  • controlling each of the optical elements makes it possible to form a linear light source of a substantially uniform intensity.
  • use of the total reflection surfaces providing a reflectance of 100% allows further enhancement of the efficiency of use of light, compared to use of a reflection surface that is minor finished by aluminum vapor deposition and the like.
  • the lighting unit as described above can be used as a linear light source unit with the light projected from the first side surface.
  • the lighting unit as described above can include a lens body unit including a plurality of the above-mentioned lens bodies to each of which the LED light source is provided, the lens bodies being arranged side by side so as to form a large linear light source unit.
  • the lens body unit can be formed by integrally molding the lens body unit as a whole.
  • the lens body unit can be formed by arranging the plurality of lens bodies side by side and fixing them in place.
  • the lighting unit using a lens body which is smaller in thickness and lighter in weight than a conventional lens body can be provided to achieve efficiency of use of light comparable to or higher than efficiency achieved by the conventional lens body.
  • FIGS. 1A , 1 B, and 1 C are a top view of a conventional lighting unit, a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1A , and a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 1A ;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating another conventional lighting unit
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lighting unit made in accordance with principles of the presently discloses subject matter, as viewed from the front;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lighting unit of FIG. 3 as viewed from the back;
  • FIG. 5 is a front view of the lighting unit of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along line B-B of FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along line A-A of FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of a lighting unit in accordance with principles of the presently discloses subject matter.
  • FIG. 9 is a front view of a lighting unit serving as a large linear light source unit.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lighting unit 10 as viewed from the front.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lighting unit 10 as viewed from the back.
  • FIG. 5 is a front view of the lighting unit 10 .
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the lighting unit 10 taken along lines B-B and A-A of FIG. 5 , respectively.
  • the lighting unit 10 of the embodiment can be applied to a vehicle-mounted signal lamp and to a generally used illumination lamp.
  • vehicle-mounted signal lamp examples include a rear position lamp, a stop lamp, a turn signal lamp, a daytime running lamp, and a position lamp.
  • the lighting unit 10 can include an LED light source 20 and a lens body 30 .
  • the LED light source 20 can be an LED light source including at least one LED chip (a blue LED chip, for example) and a fluorescent substance (yellow fluorescent substance, for example).
  • the LED light source 20 can emit white light (or quasi white light) containing light which is part of light emitted from the LED chip and which has passed through the fluorescent substance, and light from the fluorescent substance, generated by being excited by the light emitted from the LED chip.
  • the LED light source 20 can be arranged to face a side surface of the lens body 30 such that rays of light Ray 1 emitted in a wide angle direction with respect to an optical axis AX of the LED light source 20 can travel toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body 30 , and that rays of light Ray 2 emitted in a narrow angle direction with respect to the optical axis AX can enter the lens body 30 through the side surface of the lens body 30 .
  • the lens body 30 can be a lens body of a thickness of a, and have a plate form as a whole and made of a transparent resin (acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin, for example) or glass.
  • the lens body 30 can include a first optical system 31 , a second optical system 32 , a third optical system 33 , a first side surface 30 a functioning as a light exiting surface 31 e having a substantially rectangular shape greater in width than in thickness (see FIG. 5 ), a second side surface 30 b opposite the first side surface 30 a.
  • the first optical system 31 can include lens sections 31 a (of a height of a/2), first light incident surfaces 31 b , first total reflection surfaces 31 c , and second total reflection surfaces 31 d .
  • the lens sections 31 a can be formed on the front and rear surfaces of the lens body 30 such that the rays of light Ray 1 traveling toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body 30 enter the lens body 30 .
  • the lens sections 31 a can collect the rays of light Ray 1 such that the rays of light Ray 1 can travel along the optical axis AX (in the embodiment, such that the rays of light Ray 1 travel substantially parallel to the optical axis AX).
  • the first light incident surfaces 31 b can be arranged in optical paths of the rays of light Ray 1 collected by the lens sections 31 a , and can cause these rays of light Ray 1 to enter the lens body 30 again.
  • the first total reflection surfaces 31 c can be arranged in optical paths of the rays of light Ray 1 having entered the lens body 30 through the first light incident surfaces 31 b , and can cause these rays of light Ray 1 to reflect totally in a direction crossing the optical axis AX at substantially right angles (in the direction of the thickness of the lens body 30 ).
  • the second total reflection surfaces 31 d can be arranged in optical paths of the rays of light Ray 1 having reflected totally off the first total reflection surfaces 31 c , and can cause these rays of light Ray 1 to reflect totally to exit as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX through a central region 31 e 1 (see FIG. 5 ) at substantially the center of the light exiting surface 31 e .
  • An air layer S (space) for causing the rays of light Ray 1 collected by the lens sections 31 a and traveling substantially parallel to the optical axis AX to pass therethrough can be formed between the lens sections 31 a and the first light incident surfaces 31 b (see FIGS. 3 , 4 and 6 ).
  • the first light incident surfaces 31 b can be lens surfaces (of a height of a/2) substantially perpendicular to a travel path of the rays of light Ray 1 (so that the rays of light Ray 1 are not reflected by the first light incident surfaces 31 b.
  • recesses H 1 can be formed on the rear surface (and the front surface) of the lens body 30 (see FIGS. 3 and 6 ), and parts of the recesses H 1 (parts of surfaces forming the recesses H 1 ) can function as the second total reflection surfaces 31 d.
  • the rays of light Ray 1 which can be part of light emitted from the LED light source 20 and which are to travel toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body 30 can be collected by the lens sections 31 a to be converted to rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX. Then, the rays of light Ray 1 can pass through the air layer S (space) between the lens sections 31 a and the first light incident surfaces 31 b , and thereafter can enter the lens body 30 again through the first light incident surfaces 31 b to travel inside the lens body 30 .
  • the rays of light Ray 1 can be caused to reflect totally twice by the first total reflection surfaces 31 c and the second total reflection surfaces 31 d , and exit as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX through the light exiting surface 31 e (central region 31 e 1 , see FIG. 5 ).
  • the second optical system 32 can include a second light incident surface 32 a , third total reflection surfaces 32 b , and fourth total reflection surfaces 32 c .
  • the second light incident surface 32 a can be formed on a side surface (second side surface 30 b ) of the lens body 30 .
  • the second light incident surface 32 a can collect the rays of light Ray 2 emitted in a narrow angle direction with respect to the optical axis AX (in the embodiment, rays of light having directional characteristics by which the rays of light are very likely to travel at an angle of 20 degrees with respect to the center of the LED light source 20 ) such that the rays of light Ray 2 can travel along the optical axis AX (in the embodiment, such that the rays of light Ray 2 travel substantially parallel to the optical axis AX).
  • the third total reflection surfaces 32 b can be arranged in optical paths of the rays of light Ray 2 collected by the second light incident surface 32 a and having entered the lens body 30 , and cause these rays of light Ray 2 to reflect totally and sideways with respect to the optical axis AX.
  • the fourth total reflection surfaces 32 c can be arranged in optical paths of the rays of light Ray 2 having reflected totally off the third total reflection surfaces 32 b , and cause these rays of light Ray 2 to reflect totally to exit as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX through outermost regions 31 e 2 (see FIG. 5 ) at outermost parts of the light exiting surface 31 e.
  • the fourth total reflection surfaces 32 c can each include a plurality of separate total reflection surfaces 32 c 1 in a step-like pattern formed separately in the direction of the width of the lens body 30 .
  • a through hole H 2 penetrating the lens body 30 from the front surface to the rear surface thereof can be formed ahead of the second light incident surface 32 a (see FIGS. 4 and 7 ).
  • the through hole H 2 (part of a surface forming the through hole H 2 and, in the present exemplary embodiment, this part corresponds to surfaces tilted at an angle of 45 degrees from the optical axis AX) can function as the third total reflection surfaces 32 b.
  • the rays of light Ray 2 emitted from the LED light source 20 in a narrow angle direction with respect to the optical axis AX can be collected by the second light incident surface 32 a to be converted to rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX, and then can travel inside the lens body 30 . Then, the rays of light Ray 2 can be caused to reflect totally twice by the third total reflection surfaces 32 b and the fourth total reflection surfaces 32 c (plurality of separate total reflection surfaces 32 c 1 ), and can exit as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX through the light exiting surface 31 e (outermost regions 31 e 2 , see FIG. 5 ).
  • the third optical system 33 can include a third light incident surface 33 a , fifth total reflection surfaces 33 b , and others.
  • the third light incident surface 33 a can cause rays of light Ray 3 emitted from the LED light source 20 in a wide angle direction with respect to the optical axis AX and in the direction of the width of the lens body 30 to enter the lens body 30 .
  • the fifth total reflection surfaces 33 b can cause the rays of light Ray 3 having entered the lens body 30 through the third light incident surface 33 a to reflect totally to exit as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX through intermediate regions 31 e 3 (see FIG. 5 ) of the light exiting surface 31 e between the central region 31 e 1 and the outermost regions 31 e 2 .
  • the third light incident surface 33 a can be a lens surface in the form of an upright wall (in the form of a cylinder) extending from the periphery of the second light incident surface 32 a toward the LED light source 20 .
  • the fifth total reflection surfaces 33 b can be total reflection surfaces belonging to paraboloids of revolution and the focal point of which is set at an intersecting point (not shown) of extended lines of rays of light in a group (rays of light Ray 3 ) having entered the lens body 30 after being refracted off the third light incident surface 33 a .
  • side surfaces of the lens body 30 can function as the fifth total reflection surfaces 33 b.
  • the rays of light Ray 3 emitted from the LED light source 20 in a wide angle direction with respect to the optical axis AX and in the direction of the width of the lens body 30 can enter the lens body 30 through the third light incident surface 33 a , and then travel inside the lens body 30 . Then, the rays of light Ray 3 can be caused to reflect totally by the fifth total reflection surfaces 33 b , and exit as rays of light substantially parallel to the optical axis AX through the light exiting surface 31 e (intermediate regions 31 e 3 , see FIG. 5 ).
  • the lens body 30 (each of the optical systems 31 to 33 ) makes it possible to form a linear light source for emitting linear light (see FIG. 5 ) through the light exiting surface 31 e (central region 31 e 1 , outermost regions 31 e 2 , and intermediate regions 31 e 3 ).
  • the rays of light Ray 1 to travel toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body 30 may be increased by reducing the thickness of the lens body 30 .
  • the first optical system 31 (lens sections 31 a and others) can allow these rays of light Ray 1 to travel toward the front and rear surfaces of the lens body 30 to enter the lens body 30 again, so that reduction of the efficiency of use of light to be caused by reducing the thickness of the lens body 30 will not occur.
  • the present exemplary embodiment can provide the lighting unit 10 using the lens body 30 which is smaller in thickness and lighter in weight than a conventional lens body, and which is capable of achieving efficiency of use of light comparable to or higher than efficiency achieved by the conventional lens body.
  • the presence of the air layer S (space) between the lens sections 31 a and the first light incident surfaces 31 b allows the lens body 30 to be still smaller in thickness and lighter in weight accordingly.
  • the aforementioned exemplary embodiment can form a linear light source for emitting the rays of light Ray 1 , Ray 2 and Ray 3 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ) substantially parallel to the optical axis AX.
  • controlling each of the optical elements makes it possible to form a linear light source of a substantially uniform intensity.
  • use of the total reflection surfaces providing a reflectance of 100% allows further enhancement of the efficiency of use of light, compared to use of a reflection surface mirror finished by aluminum vapor deposition and the like (providing a reflectance of 90%, for example).
  • coincidence between the optical axis AX of the LED light source 20 and the optical axis of the lens body 30 makes it possible to form a layout easily.
  • the optical elements can be formed on the front and rear surfaces of the lens body 30 , to which the presently disclosed subject matter is not intended to be limited.
  • optical elements including lens section 31 a , light incident surface 31 b , total reflection surfaces 31 c and 31 d , and others may be provided only on either the front surface or the rear surface of the lens body 30 as shown in FIG. 8 .
  • the heights of the lens section 31 a and the first light incident surface 31 b be the same as the thickness a of the lens body 30 .
  • This modification can achieve the same effect as that achieved by the aforementioned exemplary embodiment.
  • the light exiting surface 31 e may be given a lens cut formed thereon.
  • the light exiting surface 31 e may be flat, and a lens section given a lens cut may be provided ahead of the light exiting surface 31 e .
  • the lens cut can control the rays of light Ray 1 , Ray 2 and Ray 3 substantially parallel to the optical axis AX, so that light can be distributed in accordance with a target light strength distribution.
  • FIG. 9 shows another modification of a lighting unit serving as a large linear light source unit.
  • a plurality of the lens bodies 30 can be arranged side by side so as to form a lens body unit 300 for a large linear light source unit 100 .
  • This linear light source unit 100 can be formed by integrally molding a single lens body unit 300 as a unit or fixing a plurality of lens bodies 30 in place while arranging them side by side.
  • a plurality of the large linear light source units 100 can be arranged in a vertical direction so that a large rectangular light source unit can be formed.
  • the large linear light source unit 100 is applicable to an automobile signal lamp such as a tail lamp, a stop lamp, a turn signal lamp, a daytime running lamp, and a position lamp.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Lenses (AREA)
US13/357,584 2011-01-24 2012-01-24 Lighting unit Expired - Fee Related US8506129B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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JP2011012298A JP5641332B2 (ja) 2011-01-24 2011-01-24 灯具
JP2011-012298 2011-01-24

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130223089A1 (en) * 2010-12-22 2013-08-29 Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh LED Light Module
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EP2479486B1 (de) 2019-03-13
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US20120188774A1 (en) 2012-07-26
EP2479486A3 (de) 2017-09-20

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